Imperiled monk seals and sea turtles, coral reefs that are declining at a rapid pace — the environmental news out of Hawaii tends to be negative.

But sea and land animals in the northwest Hawaiian islands are thriving, according to a report from KITV. 

National Geographic explorer Sylvia Earle and a partner surveyed the islands with the following observations: 

Monk seals, sea turtles, sharks, and albatross are thriving. They credit a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state and NOAA with restoring the wildlife environment since it was declared a sanctuary five years ago.

“All of this has resulted with real hope. It will never go back to what it was like 1,000 or not even 100 years ago, but it’s certainly better,” Earle said.

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